Remember that ridiculous vaporware console called The Phantom System who's utter failure was predicted by everybody under the sun? I bought one! Well, at least a weird version of something that shares the same name. There's a guy somewhere in San Paulo trying to translate my emails and quote the shipping to Miami.
As it turns out, the Phantom is alive and well in Brazil with a healthy used aftermarket on South America. There are seriously a ton of them available for the picking bundled with two (bad) games and hilarious bootlegs like MegaMan 3: Pew Pew Pew Edition. As a few of you know, I'm a quasi-serious console collector, so this was more than irresistable. And like a lamb to the slaughter, the Destructowallet was drawn.
So where can you get one of these bad boys? InsertCredit reported that Phantom sales were thriving on MercadoLibre. As it turns out, the Phantom people have completely abandoned the pay-per-download service and were now releasing the games on cartridges. Seems like it was going on for awhile too, there were a ton available.
Here's the good stuff: the joystick is an obviously ripped off Sega Genesis controller. Shamelessly delicious! There are also some really cool oddities on there for retro collectors, like this odd Dynavision 2 system that plays Double Dragon 3 for roughly sixty bucks. Very tempting, but I'm not emotionally attached.
So sure enough, I jump on the bandwagon and there are a ton of them selling for about R$80 (or $40 US). After a few failed searches I found one that had three games and a controller. And with a carpe diem click, I put in my offer.
If I can convince him to ship it to me without going through a mess of money orders and escrow processes, I should be a proud (and cursed!) Phantom System owner by the end of the month. The absurdity of what just transpired fills me with gushing nerdfulls of guilty joy. Can't hardly wait till it gets here. I hope it has a big ass.
To be continued...
Contest:
12:40 PM on 04.12.2007
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Phantom_%28game_system%29
In fact, I have no idea what the above system is.
This isn't THE Phantom. You can't buy something that never existed, after all.
My prized possession is my ColecoVision with the numeric keypad...wooot... which I still rock out to Smurfs Adventure and Cabbage Patch Kids...for old times sake of course ;-)
Check this awesome video showing all the great systems from the beginning of time (1975) to the present.....yummy collection
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3C52cWs6bSc
Seriously, what DEAN said, that thing looks like an Atari that plays NES cartidges that uses SEGA controllers.
What.The.Fuck.
anything to justify 600$ eh?
That sir was awesome.
And if you guys follow the link titled "i'm a quassi serious console collector" you'll see the phrase "gotta love joystiq" written on Destructoid. Oh the horror!
WTF.
I fail at detecting sarcasm online!
Sorry Niero!
And WTF is with the new pic Snaileb!?
I mean...WTF!
Hell yeah I'm reviewing this system when it comes. I hope the controller also works on my Genesis so I can use THE PHANTOM to play Altered Beast
I can't help it! I know it's Summa and all but damned if he doesn't make a good Nappa!
If someone photoshopped my head into Nappa I'd sport it, but alas I am skinny and tall... and no handlebar mustaches..
=(
Welcome to the club Niero. I have a Famputer myself to run my copy of Rockman 2: Dr. Wily's Nahassahemapetilan and Super Mario Brothers.
I'm looking forward to as serious a review as you can provide when you get it.
I'm interested in how it plays against the 360 and PS3. I'm also interested in what kind of online community it may provide.
Just watched the pimp-ass video you linked to from August last year, it was pretty epic.
I saw a copy of Last Battle sitting atop your awesome genesis cartridge collection. You ever finish that game? cos it was HARDcore.
Brazil
" The Phantom System was released 1991 by Gradiente, and was the most popular Brazilian Famiclone. It had controllers which were clones of the Mega Drive's. In 1993, Nintendo themselves arrived in Brazil and released the NES with American cartridge slot, being manufactured by Playtronic, a joint venture between the toy company Estrela and Gradiente."
http://www.destructoid.com/worst-dialogue-in-a-video-game-ever-ever--27476.phtml